Reverse-saboted sidearm systems, and related sidearms, ammunition, and methods
View Patent ↗A representative reverse-saboted sidearm system includes: a sidearm having a barrel assembly with an inner wall defining a longitudinally extending bore; and a round of reverse-saboted ammunition having a non-necked casing, a reverse sabot, and a projectile, the reverse sabot mounted at a discharge end of the casing with a distal end of the reverse sabot extending outwardly from the casing, the reverse sabot exhibiting a diameter corresponding to a diameter of the casing and defining a receiving passage aligned with a longitudinal centerline of the casing, the projectile being at least partially disposed within the receiving passage of the reverse sabot; the inner wall of the barrel assembly being configured to engage an exterior surface of the projectile to direct the projectile.
1 . A sidearm system, comprising:
a sidearm having a barrel assembly with an inner wall defining a longitudinally extending bore; and
a round of saboted ammunition having a non-necked casing, a sabot, and a projectile, the sabot mounted at a discharge end of the casing with a distal end of the sabot extending outwardly from the casing, the sabot defining a receiving passage aligned with a longitudinal centerline of the casing, the projectile being at least partially disposed within the receiving passage of the sabot;
the inner wall of the barrel assembly being configured to engage an exterior surface of the projectile to direct the projectile;
wherein:
the sabot is a first bullet of a caliber configured for use with the casing;
the receiving passage is formed through the first bullet;
the projectile is a second bullet of a smaller caliber than the caliber of the first bullet;
the projectile is a 5.56 mm NATO rifle bullet; and
the first bullet is a 10 mm auto pistol bullet.
2 . The sidearm system of claim 1 , wherein:
the casing extends from a striking end to a discharge end, the casing defining an interior, the discharge end having an aperture defining an opening, the opening communicating with the interior; and
the system further comprises:
propellant disposed within the interior; and
a primer mounted at the striking end of the casing, the primer being operative to ignite the propellant.
3 . The saboted sidearm system of claim 2 , wherein:
a first portion of the sabot extends into the opening and the interior;
a second portion of the sabot extends outwardly from the discharge end of the casing;
the receiving passage extends through the sabot from a proximal end of the first portion to a distal end of the second portion; and
the casing, the primer, the sabot, and the projectile encase the propellant.
4 . The sidearm system of claim 1 , wherein:
the projectile has a proximal end and a distal end; and
the distal end of the projectile does not extend beyond the distal end of the sabot.
5 . The saboted sidearm system of claim 4 , wherein the proximal end of the projectile does not extend beyond the proximal end of the sabot.
6 . The reverse-sabeted sidearm system of claim 1 , wherein the sabot is configured to remain mounted to the casing after firing of the round, during which the projectile is expelled from the sabot.
7 . The saboted sidearm system of claim 1 , wherein the receiving passage is an axial bore formed through the sabot.
8 . The saboted sidearm system of claim 1 , wherein:
along a length of the receiving passage, the receiving passage varies in diameter; and
an inner surface of the sabot defining the receiving passage at a narrowed portion thereof engages an exterior portion of the projectile to mount the projectile to the sabot.
9 . The sidearm system of claim 1 , wherein:
along a length of the receiving passage, the receiving passage varies in diameter, with an intermediate portion of the receiving passage exhibiting a narrowed diameter; and
an inner surface of the sabot defining the intermediate portion of the receiving passage engages an exterior portion of the projectile to mount the projectile to the sabot.
10 . The saboted sidearm system of claim 9 , wherein the inner surface is toroidal in shape.
11 . The saboted sidearm system of claim 1 , wherein the casing has a circumferential extraction groove disposed adjacent to the striking end.
12 . The saboted sidearm system of claim 1 , wherein the inner wall of the barrel assembly exhibits rifling to impart rotation to the projectile while being propelled through the bore.
13 . A saboted ammunition round, comprising:
a casing exhibiting a non-necked cylindrical exterior extending from a striking end to a discharge end, the casing defining an interior, the discharge end having an aperture defining an opening, the opening communicating with the interior;
propellant disposed within the interior;
a primer mounted at the striking end of the casing, the primer being operative to ignite the propellant;
a sabot mounted at the discharge end of the casing, with a first portion of the sabot extending into the opening and the interior, and a second portion of the sabot extending outwardly from the discharge end of the casing, the sabot exhibiting a diameter corresponding to a diameter of the opening of the casing and defining a receiving passage aligned with a longitudinal centerline of the casing, the receiving passage extending through the sabot from a proximal end of the first portion to a distal end of the second portion; and
a projectile disposed at least partially within the receiving passage of the sabot;
the casing, the primer, the sabot, and the projectile encasing the propellant;
wherein:
the sabot is a first bullet of a caliber configured for use with the casing;
the receiving passage is formed through the first bullet;
the projectile is a second bullet of a smaller caliber than the caliber of the first bullet;
the projectile is a 5.56 mm NATO rifle bullet; and
the first bullet is a 10 mm auto pistol bullet.